HB 196

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                             CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 196(ENE)
                       IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
                     THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
 BY THE HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ENERGY
 Offered: 3/9/26
 Referred: Finance
 Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES BURKE, Fields
                                             A BILL
                                   FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
1  "An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund and recommendation program."
2  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
3    * Section 1. AS 42.45.045(a) is amended to read:
4(a) A renewable energy grant fund is established as a separate fund to finance
5certain energy projects in Alaska for the purpose of providing affordable energy to
6all communities in the state.
7    * Sec. 2. AS 42.45.045(d) is amended to read:
8(d)     The authority shall, in consultation with the advisory committee
9established under (i) of this section and the Department of Natural Resources,
10(1) develop a methodology for determining the order of projects that
11may receive assistance, including separate requirements for grant eligibility, and adopt
12regulations identifying criteria to evaluate the benefit and feasibility of projects for
13which an applicant applies for support from the legislature, with the most weight being
14given to projects that serve any area in which the average cost of energy to each
15resident of the area exceeds the average cost to each resident of other areas of the
 HB0196b  -1-  CSHB 196(ENE)
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1state, and significant weight being given to a statewide balance of grant funds and to
2the amount of matching funds an applicant is able to make available;
3(2) provide technical assistance to communities with a population
4of less than 2,000 to help the community prepare and submit grant applications
5for projects;
6(3) annually solicit and review grant applications for projects;
7(4) make recommendations to the legislature for renewable power
8production reimbursement grants; and
9(5) [(3)] not later than 10 days after the first day of each regular
10legislative session, submit to the legislature a report summarizing and reviewing each
11grant application submitted under this section and a recommended priority for
12awarding grants.
13  * Sec. 3. AS 42.45.045 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
14(m) The advisory committee appointed under (i) of this section shall elect a
15chair from among its members. The chair serves for a term of two years. The chair
16may not serve for consecutive terms. After a year of not serving as chair, the member
17is eligible for election as chair again. The advisory committee shall meet at the call of
18the chair.
 CSHB 196(ENE)  -2-  HB0196b
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